Early Origins of the Suttine family

The surname Suttine was first found in Nottinghamshire where they were descended from Dreu de Montaigu who came into England at the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. in the train of the Count of Mortain. His first seat was at Sutton Montague in Somerset, and the family later acquired Sutton upon Trent near Tuxford in Nottingham, where they became Lords of the manor and the Barons Dudley.

"Sutton-upon-Trent gave name to this ancient family, the first upon record being Roland, son of Hervey, who lived in the reign of Henry III., and married Alice, daughter and coheiress of Richard de Lexington." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.

There are countless listings of the place name throughout Britain in the Domesday Book with various spellings due to the literal meaning of the name "south farmstead or village." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) The parish Averham in Nottinghamshire was an ancient family seat.

"At the time of the siege of Newark, many skirmishes occurred here; and in 1644, the ancient manor-house, then belonging to Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington and Baron of Averham, and which had been the residence of the family from 1250, was destroyed." [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

However, the church in Averham and Kelham still hold many relics and several ancient memorials to the Suttons. Some of the church windows date back to 1220. On the south wall is a mural monument, adorned with cherubs and armorial bearings, to the memory of the Right Hon. Robert Lord Lexington, having descended from "ye ancient family of ye Suttons."

Kelham Hall has been the present family seat since it was built in the 1860s.

Suttine Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Suttine include Sutton, Suton, Suttone and others.

Early Notables of the Suttine family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Sutton (died 1414), of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, an English politician, one of the wealthiest and most influential merchants in Lincoln, a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Lincoln in 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1388, 1391, 1394, 1397 and 1399... Another 172 words (12 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Suttine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Suttine family to Ireland

Some of the Suttine family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Suttine family to the New World and Oceana

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Suttines to arrive on North American shores: Ambrose Sutton who settled in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1640; Annis Sutton settled in Virginia in 1639; Dorothy Sutton settled in Barbados in 1679.

The Suttine Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.